$525 — NYC to Istanbul Nonstop this Fall (R/T incl. Tax); Save $500

Named one of three European Capitals of Culture in 2010, Istanbul is chock-full of attractions for history buffs, art lovers and casual travelers alike. This flight from NYC to Istanbul easily saves 50% on peak season travel.

Fare Details

Not only is this fare a savings of about $300 on the regular cost of this route, but it cuts $500 off summer fares. It’s also a nice perk that you can fly nonstop and accumulate Delta or United miles. These carriers fly a ton of routes worldwide, making the frequent flier miles pretty valuable.

This flight is widely October 20 – December 24, which is a great time to visit with high temperatures in the upper 50s (°F).

Click the link below to search for the best dates to travel using Fly.com’s Low Fare Calendar:

Booking on Fly.com is really simple, but here are some screenshots so you know what to look for:

Fly.com Search Results

Delta Booking Page

Tip: For the best experience use Internet Explorer or Chrome when booking on Delta.com.

Things to Do in Istanbul

Istanbul’s history dates back to about 660 BC, which means there are tons of ancient buildings and mosques to explore. It also served as a capital for both the Roman Empire and Ottoman Empire. Don’t miss the following historical structures:

Hagia Sophia – Dedicated in 360 AD as a church, the Hagia Sophia later became a mosque. Since 1943, it has served as a museum. The main draw of this spectacular structure is the grand dome. Its unique design is said to have changed the course of architectural history. Fun fact – the Hagia Sophia was the largest cathedral in the world for about 1,000 years, until the Seville Cathedral was completed in 1520.

Topkapi Palace – Residence of the Ottoman emperors for about 400 years, it was eventually converted to a museum. Along the way, each emperor added to the palace, making it a maze of buildings from different eras. Take a close look at the trees in the courtyards, as many of their barks are hollowed out due to a fungus.

Sultan Ahmed Mosque (or Blue Mosque) – Many consider this mosque to be the most picturesque of all the sights in Istanbul. Known for its interior blue tiled walls, it was completed in 1616 and adorned with six minarets (towers).

Sultan Ahmed Mosque

This does not even crack the surface of what there is to see in Istanbul. One of my all-time favorite activities, when visiting Europe and the Middle East especially, is to find a market where the locals shop. There is nothing like breathing in the culture through food, spices and mingling with the locals at a marketplace.

Spice Market

If there are any readers out there who have been to Istanbul, please recommend some of your favorite sights. Tell us the best places to visit, stay and eat (in case I decide to book this great deal)!

Special thanks to Travelzoo Top 20 publisher, Jaime Freedman, for the fantastic photos from her trip to Istanbul.

Matt is an airfare deal hunter, whose amazing finds have been published in AM New York and NYTimes.com. He currently calls New York City home, but frequents Europe and the Middle East. His travels last year took him to Stockholm for $150 and Barcelona for $250 roundtrip, including taxes.